Apparatus for delivering measured quantities by volume of petrol and other liquids



Jan, 31, 1928. 1,657,992

I C. CHAM ERS APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MEASURED QUANTITIES BY VOLUME QF PETROL AND OTHER LIQUIDS Filed July 11. 1924 4 Sheets-Shed 1 Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,992

C. CHAMBERS APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MEASURED QUANTITIES BY VOLUME OF P 0L AND ER LIQUIDS ed J ly 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 31, 1928.

C. CHAMBERS APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MEASURED QUANTITIES BY VOLUME 0F PETROL AND OTHER LIQUIDS Filed July 11. 1924 I 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,992 C. CHAMBERS APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING MEASURED QUANTITIES BY voums 0F PETROL AND o'rnnn LIQUIDS Filed y 1.924 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PIC-3.5.

as I as a as Patented Jan. 31 i928.

untrue STATES Parent caries.

CORNELIUS GHAMlBERS, 01F SHIRLEY, ENGLAND.

arranarns non nnnrvnnrne nnns'czann anniv'rirrns nu VOLUME or rnrnot nun ornnn nru'orns.

Application filed July 11, 19%, Serial No. 725,460, and in Great Britain July I l, 19%.

My invention relates to apparatus for delivering measured quantities by volume of petrol or other liquids and is particularly applicable to that class or". such which are employed in connection with roadside filling stations wherein one orv more measuring tanks are provided in which the liquid is passed until the tank is completely filled,

when the liquid is discharged.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide improved means to guard against fraud whereby the purchaser can satisfy himself that each measuring tank is filled before the discharge commences and/or whereby the purchaser can satisfy himself thateach measuring chamber is completely discharged. I j

My invention is carried into effect by providing visual, audible or other signals which can be observed by the purchaser and by which the purchaser can ensure that theap paratus is operated to give full measure.

Further, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for giving the necessary signals without making use of electrical contacts (which areliable to produce sparks) such as have already been proposed in connection with float-operated sig nals associated with overflow or discharge pipes in this type of apparatus.

Accordingtothe present invention I provide a mechanical device either in the path of the discharge liquid, or in the path of liquid which has overfiowed from the tank after same has been completely filled, or such devices are provided both in the path of the discharging liquid andin the path of the overflowing liquid, the said mechanical 'device or devices being adapted to be operated by the flow of the discharging or overflowing liquid and serving to control or set in operation an indicating device or signal.

' In the preferred arrangement each measuring tank is provided with an overflow opening through which liqui'd only passes after the tank has been completely tilled and each measuring tank is provided with a dis charge opening and conduits or passages are provided both for the overflow liquid and for the discharging liquid, the said conduits or passagesleading to'separate mechanicaldevices which are adapted to control or set in operation separate indicating devices or signals. i

The mechanical devices referred to may comprise cups, and these cups may be applied to levers or other movable members and the cups may be provided with openings in their lower parts or may be otherwise constructed or arranged to retain the overflowing or discharging liquid for a time so as to move the levers or other members with which thev are associated, but to discharge themselves automatically after an interval.

F or constituting the overflow passage the upper part of each measuring chamber may beprovided with an opening at the top and the upper part of each measuring chamber may be surrounded by an annular gallery or chamber for catchingthe overflow, and the overflow conduit for each chamber maybe formed by a pipe leading from said gallery or annular chamber.

In connection with the indicating device associated with the discharge from each chamber, it will be observed that this will remain in operation during the whole period of the discharge'of said chamber so that if the purchaser watches the indicating device or signal he will. know that the discharge valve from that measuring tank should notbe closed until after the indicating device or signal either disappears or otherwise indicates that a complete discharge has taken place.

My invention may be applied to that class of apparatus comprising a plurality of measuring tanksadapted to be filled by a single pump, suitable valves being. provided for directing the supply of liquid first to one tank and then to the other the arrangement being such thatv one tank is filled while the other is discharging and in connection with such apparatus i may provide a single indicator or signal for indicating when either or any of the measuring tanks are full, but I prefer to provide separate indicator. or signal for indicating the discharge from ch ch measuring tank.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a front view of one form of. l

the apparatus.

lligure 2 is a sectional View on line 2--2 oi Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional side view taken on the centre line of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 oi Figure 2. i

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view upon line 6 -6 of Figure 2.

Figure? is a perspective view showing one of the combined mechanical appliances and indicators or signals. in the construction illustrated the petrol or other liquid is pumped by a pump such as 1 into a junction piece 2 and up through the pipes 3, 3. The two pipes 3 each lead to a valve casing t in which is located a suitable valve 5. 'The valves illustrated are plug valves and each is provided with a port 6 leading into the valve from its periphery and out at the end of the valve, which port I will refer to as the inlet port and each valve is provided with a second trans verse port 7 which serves as a discharge port. It will be seen that the direction of the port 7 is at right angles to the direction ofthe leading in portion of the valve 6.

Each valve casino; i is provided with a gland 8 by which the valve is made fluid tight, and. each valve is provided with a ste n 9 upon which is mounted a spur wheel 1O. The two spur wheels 10 are geared together by spur pinion 11 mounted upon aspindle 12 supported in a suitable bracket 13. The spindle 12 is provided with a handle 1 1 so that the spur wheel 11 can be r otated when required to operate the two valves 5 simultaneously- Thearrangement is such that when one valve 5 is in the position shown in Figure 2 with its inlet port open and its discharge port closed, the other valve isin the opposite position, i. e. its discharge port- '2 is open and its inlet valve 6 is closed. Thus the liquid forced up the pipes 3 by the pump 1 passes alternately first into a feed pipe 15 connected to one valve casing and then into a similarfeedpipe 15 connected to the other valve casing.

The measuring chambers 16 may be of thefcylindrical form shown having: a domed or conical base 17 and a domed or partconical roof 18: lhe actual cylinder forming theniain part at the chamber is continued upwardly as shown at 19 so that an annular gallery or chamber 20 is formed around thereof-of each chamber.

Tlietop or root of each chamber 18 is provided with a suitable number 01, three are shown neck pieces 21 which may be screw threaded either internally or externally and ac'us a ve seeves 4.1 are serewet into .iese "l tbl l 09 l t tl neclr pieces so that after the apparatus has been erected at the roadside, these neck pieces may be adjusted with care to ensure that the capacity of the measure is absolutely accurate. .Vhen a correct adjustment;

has been arrived at, the neck pieces maybe sealed.

Theupper parts of the pipes 15 pass into the spaces above the roots 18 of the measuring chambers and at the highest point i an opening 24: is preferably provided For the purpose of breaking any siphoning action which might otherwise be possible. The ends of the pipes 15 lead downwardly through a central hole in the roof 18 (ii each measuring chamber and a perforated hollow discharge member 25 may be provided to avoid turbulence in the liquid as it is tied into the measuring chamber.

As each measuring chamber 16 completely tilled, the liquid therefrom overtlows through one or more of the sleeves 22, the opening through which constitute (l'\'t1.- llow passages. Such overtlow passes into the annular spa @20 from which there are discharge openings 26 leading to a common overflow pipe 23'. The pipe 2? leads direct to a chamber 28 where the overflowing; liquid falls into a cu} 29 formed. or mounted on a lever 80 pivoted at 31 and having its end provided witn an indicatingdevicc or sig nal The front end of the chamber 28 is provided with a transparent panel 83 through which the indicator or signal 32 can be seen when the lever is tilted by the weight oi liquid in the cup 29. Normally however, when the cup 29 is emptied the lever is ovcrl'ialanced by the weight of th, il or indicating device 82 and occupies the position shewn in Figure 1 in which the signal or indicating device is not visible.

The cup 29 is provided with relatively small perforations 3i so that aftc a short period it empties itsel't' automatically and returns to the position shown in Figure l.

The indicating device or signal I may alto any suitable form. in the illusaratcd construction a visual signal hearing; "he word Full is shown and it will be u "1i distill that as each measuring chamber 1(3 is coinpletely tilled and overflows, this ur]. Full will be exl'iibited for a period i ciently long for a purchaser to observe it, the :urchaser oi course tal; H1 ca e that the operator noes not open the discl'. sge valve either chamber until alter the signal Full has been given for that chamber.

The operation of the valves is rendered apparent to the purchaser by "i\' vuitablc signal. in the apparatus illust atzd a hell 35 is provided, the spindle lQbcin" irovided with acollar 36 cairving :1 pair ol' arms 37 which when the valvesare operator! are moved so as to operate one oi the spring pressed tr rs 38. The urns; 3? more pas: the trirrire s a8 and allow the triggers it to spring aclt and strilite the bell.

The discharge-e trom the chambers it; are delivered by pipes 39 into what I may term an interception chamber 10. Directly under the end of each pipe 39 is a lover 1 ol' similar construction to the lcrer and l ziv ing a perforated cup 4-2 and an indicator or signal Normally the indicators or :5

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nals 43 cannot be seen from the front of the apparatus but during the. period of the 01 arge the levers ll are rocked to bring the indicators or signals 4-3 into line with trainsparent panels a l. nals may be marked with the word l i aiit indicating that the operator must wait until. the said signal has disappeared beiore operating the valves again.

If required the discharges from a plurality oi measuring chambers or portions of such discharges may be guided to the cup or vane of a single mechanical device for setting in action or controlling a signal instead or providing a separate mechanical device and signal for each discharge.

The interception chamber -10 receives the discharge from the two measuring chambers and allows oi the continuous operation oi the discharge. In operating the apparatus a certain'period of time is of course, occupied in the operation of the valves and it no interception chamber such as 40 were provided, the discharge to the tank of the vehi cle would be interrupted during this period. By providing an interception. chamber the discharge through the flexible or other pipe is continuous.

In order to have a record of the number of gallons of liquid delivered, a mechanical counter 46 may be provided operated by a cam 47 on the spindle 12, the cam 4-7 acting upon push rod 48 provided on the mechanical counter.

As will be seen from Figures 1 and 6, the interception chamber l0 is provided with transparent panels 49 through which the passage or the liquid can be seen. The chamber 28 into which the overflow passes is located partially within the interception chamber 40 but is divided therefrom. The chamber 28 is provided with a return pipe 50 leading the overflow back to the source of supply.

A. suitable stop is associated with the handle 14: or with the spindle 12 limiting its motion in both directions.

instead of using the cups 29 and &2 plates or vanes which. may be flat or even convex may be used, said plates or vanes being adapted to be displaced by the flow of the liquid.

lVhat I claim then is:

1. Apparatus for delivering ntieasured quantities by volume of liquid, comprising a pump, a two armed junction pipe taking delivery from said pump, two valve casings each connected to one of said arms, valves in said casings, an elbow on the end of each alve casing, said valves having ports controlling passage ol": liquid to said elbows, measuring chambers disposed one above each valve chamber. shouldered discharge pipes on the bottoms of the said 1neasuringchambers, a connecting and supporting plate en- These indicators or sig valves whereby gaged by both of said discharge pipes, upper and lower branches on the valve casing constituting discharge passages from the mess uring chambers, said upper branches being connected to said discharge pipes below said plate, an interception chamber connected by pipes to both said lower branches, said valves having ports controlling passage of liquid through said branches, a discharge pipe leading from said interception chamber, pipes connecting said elbows with the upper parts of the measuring chambers, brackets on said plate, a spindle rotatably mounted in said brackets, an operating handie on said spindle, and gearing associated with said operating handle and with said said valves are operated simmtaneously.

2. Apparatus for delivering measured quantities by volume or liquid, comprising a pump, two armed junction pipe taking delivery from said pump, two valve casings each connected to one of said arms, valves in said cash is measuring chambers disposed one above each valve chamber, pipes connecting d valve casings with the upper parts of said measuring chambers, overflow collecting chambers formed above said measuring chambers, shouldered discharge pipes on the bottom of said measuring chambers, a connecting and supporting plate engaged by both oi said discharge pipes, upper and lower branches on the valve casing constituting discharge passages from the measuring chambers, said upper branches being connected to said discharge pipes below said plate, an interception chamber connected by pipes to both 01: said lower branches, an overflow return chamber within said intercept-ion chamber, a pipe connecting the overilow collecting chambers with said overflow return chamber, a discharge pipe leading from said interception chamber, brackets on said plate, a spindle rotatably mounted in said brackets, an operating handle on said spindle, and gearing associated with said op erating handle and with said valves whereby said valves are operated simultaneously.

3. Apparatus for delivering measured quantities by volume of liquid, comprising a pump, a two armed unction pipe taking delivery irom said pump, two valve casings each connected to one of said arms, valves in said casings, measuring chambers disposed one above each valve chamber. pipes connecting "aid valve casings with the upper parts of said measuring chambers, overflow collecting chambers formed above said measuring chambers, shouldered discharge pipes on the bottoms of said measuring chambers. a connecting and suppt ting plate engaged h both of said dischz e pipes, upper and lower branches on the valve casing constL tu ting discharge passages from the measuring chambers, said upper branches being v, PM)

till

llll) connected to said discharge pipes below said plate, an interception chamber connected by pipes to both of said lower branches, an overflow return chamber Within said interception chamber, a, pipe connecting the overfiow collecting chambers with Said overflow return chamber, mechanical signals in said interception and overflow return chamber, operated by flow of the liquid, a discharge pipe leading from said interception Cllflhb her, brackets on said plate a spindle rotatably ineunted in said brackets, an operati 'ig hand e on sa d spindle, and gearing associated with said operating handle and with said valves whereby said valves are operated simultaneously.

In witness whereof I aflix inv signature.

connnriius crilrvinans. 

